Senior Electrical Controls Engineer

SERVOLIFT; New Jersey; On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

SERVOLIFT is seeking an experienced Controls Engineer in New Jersey to design, program, and implement industrial control systems for pharma, food, chemical, and cosmetics industries. The role focuses on AutoCAD Electrical design and Allen-Bradley hardware/software, driving end-to-end control system development from concept to customer handoff.

The ideal candidate will bring 5+ years of controls/automation experience, strong PLC/HMI/VFD proficiency, and the ability to travel for installations and

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering or related field (not required if experience is strong).
• 5+ years of controls/automation engineering with full project lifecycle ownership.
• Proven experience designing complete control systems from scratch (concept to commissioning).
• Strong proficiency in AutoCAD Electrical for control panel and wiring design.
• In-depth knowledge of Rockwell Automation/Allen-Bradley PLCs, HMIs, and VFDs.
• Familiarity with virtualization, Windows Server, SCADA, industrial networks, and data acquisition tools is a plus.
• Excellent troubleshooting, documentation, and communication skills.
• Willingness to travel occasionally for customer installations and support.
• Experience with safety PLCs and machine safety design (GuardLogix, risk assessments).
• Knowledge of UL/NFPA/CE electrical standards.

Responsibilities

• Design and develop industrial control systems using AutoCAD Electrical, panel layouts, wiring diagrams, and I/O schematics.
• Program, debug, and commission Allen-Bradley PLCs, HMIs, and VFDs.
• Lead electrical controls portion of projects from concept through FAT, installation, and SAT.
• Develop and maintain SDS detailing system functionality, operations, and communication protocols.
• Collaborate with mechanical engineering, panel builders, and project managers to meet customer specs.
• Troubleshoot and optimize control systems for safety, reliability, and efficiency.
• Maintain documentation, backups, and version control for control systems.
• Provide training and support to customer maintenance and operations staff.
• Contribute input on standards, best practices, and design improvements.
• Manage multiple projects across states.

Skills

AutoCAD Electrical

Allen-Bradley PLCs

HMI (FactoryTalk View)

VFDs (PowerFlex)

Control panel design

System troubleshooting

Project lifecycle ownership

Electrical safety standards

Industrial networks

Servo motor control

Education

Bachelor's degree in Electrical Engineering

Tools

FactoryTalk View SE/ME

PanelView 800

PowerFlex

Job description

Job Description

Position Overview:

We are a leading OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) specializing in custom-engineered process and handling systems to companies in the pharmaceutical, food, chemical and cosmetics industries. We are seeking a highly skilled and experienced Controls Engineer to join our team. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience designing industrial control systems from the ground up, with a strong emphasis on AutoCAD Electrical for CAD design and Allen-Bradley-based hardware and software platforms, including PLCs, HMIs, and VFDs. This position will play a key role in developing, implementing, and supporting automation systems for our machines. The ideal candidate will have a solid understanding of end-to-end control system lifecycle, from design to customer handoff.

Key Responsibilities:

• Design and develop industrial control systems utilizing AutoCAD Electrical, including panel layouts, wiring diagrams, and I/O schematics.
• Program, debug, and commission Allen-Bradley PLCs (CompactLogix, ControlLogix, Micro800), HMIs (FactoryTalk View SE/ME, Panelview 800), and VFDs (PowerFlex series).
• Lead the electrical controls portion of machine projects from concept through FAT (Factory Acceptance Testing), installation, and SAT (Site Acceptance Testing).
• Develop, write, and maintain detailed Software Development Specifications (SDS) that outline system functionality, sequence of operations, PLC/HMI structures, and communication protocols for internal teams and end users.
• Collaborate closely with mechanical engineering, panel builders, and project managers to ensure machine functionality meets customer specifications.
• Troubleshoot and optimize control systems to ensure safety, reliability, and efficiency.
• Maintain and update documentation, backups, and version control for control systems.
• Provide training and support to customer maintenance and operations staff.
• Provide input on standards development, best practices, and design improvements.
• Manage multiple projects in different states simultaneously.

Skills and Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering, or related engineering field (not a must if you have serious experience).
• 5+ years of experience in controls/automation engineering, including full project lifecycle ownership.
• Proven experience designing complete control systems from scratch (concept to commissioning).
• Strong proficiency in AutoCAD Electrical for control panel and wiring design.
• In-depth knowledge of Rockwell Automation/Allen-Bradley PLCs, HMIs, and VFDs.
• Familiarity with virtualization, Windows Server, SCADA systems, industrial networks, and/or data acquisition/batch reporting tools is a plus.
• Excellent troubleshooting, documentation, and communication skills.
• Ability to travel occasionally for customer installations and support.
• Experience with safety PLCs and machine safety design (e.g., GuardLogix, risk assessments).
• Knowledge of UL, NFPA, and CE electrical standards.
• Experience with additional control system environments and manufacturers (Siemens, ABB, Schneider, etc.).
• Experience with Servo motor control.
• Exposure to industrial protocols (EtherNet/IP, Modbus, OPC UA).